India made progress in sustainable development thanks to its efforts in reducing deforestation and promoting the use of renewable sources of energy. Left, a tribal woman cooked by the light of a solar lantern in Tumni Pada village, Maharashtra, June 2011.

India made progress in sustainable development thanks to its efforts in reducing deforestation and promoting the use of renewable sources of energy. Left, a tribal woman cooked by the light of a solar lantern in Tumni Pada village, Maharashtra, June 2011.

Of the world's slum dwellers, 15% live in India, while China has 24%, according to the U.N. report. A slum household is defined by the U.N. as a group of individuals living under the same roof and lacking one or more of the following: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient-living area and durability of housing. A slum in Mumbai, May 11.

Of the world's slum dwellers, 15% live in India, while China has 24%, according to the U.N. report. A slum household is defined by the U.N. as a group of individuals living under the same roof and lacking one or more of the following: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient-living area and durability of housing. A slum in Mumbai, May 11.

Based on U.N. indicators, India is home to 612 million poor people and ranks below Pakistan on the multi-dimensional Poverty Index. Left, a ragpicker walked through garbage in search of recyclable material at a municipal waste dump near the eastern Indian city of Siliguri.

Based on U.N. indicators, India is home to 612 million poor people and ranks below Pakistan on the multi-dimensional Poverty Index. Left, a ragpicker walked through garbage in search of recyclable material at a municipal waste dump near the eastern Indian city of Siliguri.

India ranked 129 out of 146 countries on the gender inequality index. Only 26.6% of Indian women reached secondary education, while 86.3 of 1,000 births involved adolescent mothers. Left, seven-year-old child bride Guddu Bai sat in the back of a truck as she waited for the rest of her family after she was married in Biaora, near Bhopal, May 7.

India ranked 129 out of 146 countries on the gender inequality index. Only 26.6% of Indian women reached secondary education, while 86.3 of 1,000 births involved adolescent mothers. Left, seven-year-old child bride Guddu Bai sat in the back of a truck as she waited for the rest of her family after she was married in Biaora, near Bhopal, May 7.